She wasn’t his to take. She ran to him anyway. Freedom is nothing but an illusion.

Essie has always known what her future holds—a life dictated by her father, a marriage she never chose, a fate she cannot escape. But when the moment finally arrives, panic takes hold. Desperate and reckless, she runs, throwing herself into the unknown… and into the path of a dangerous man.

Arseny Sidorov has spent his life defying expectations, carving out his own ruthless path. But when a terrified girl lands in his lap, begging for an escape, he makes a choice that alters both of their lives forever. Essie is too young, too innocent, and far too tempting. She is everything he shouldn’t want—everything he cannot have.

She longs for freedom. He thrives on control.

But in a world where power is everything and choices come with deadly consequences, desire is the most dangerous game of all. One decision can change a life. One touch can alter a destiny.